Honorary Degree Bestowed On UC's Second-Longest Serving President

From his humble beginnings in the “Steel Town” of Pittsburgh,  through the transformation of the University of Cincinnati into a world-class institution under his Presidency, Dr. Joseph A. Steger has been a man of purpose and vision.  His dedication and determination have brought UC to the threshold of an internationally recognized and esteemed university.  Even though he stepped down as President in 2003, he continues in his commitment to progression and excellence by his leadership in the College of Business.

His accomplishments are many; his legacy is unquestioned.  He is a prolific writer and a voracious reader.  He is an unparalleled teacher, and an avid advocate of the humanities.  He is an astute businessman, applying his marketing and merchandising acumen to the furtherance of the university image.  He has truly brought the University of Cincinnati from a “city school” into the 2000’s as a world-class facility.  During his term as President, we witnessed the “greening” of the campus; the elimination of acres of unsightly blacktop surfaces, and the conception and execution of award-winning architectural masterpieces. 

Dr. Steger has served on various boards, both regionally and nationally; he has written and published over 70 articles, papers and reports; he has authored a book on statistics; he has conducted research and acted as a consultant for some of the largest and most influential companies in America; he has been awarded substantial grants for his scientific research; and he has been the recipient of countless honors and awards.  The new Student Life Center, part of the transformation of the campus for which he deserves much credit, has been named the Joseph A. Steger Student Life Center.

In addition to Dr. Steger’s impressive accomplishments, or possibly at the heart of his achievements, he remains a proud and loving husband, father and grandfather.  He is always the first to give credit to his wife Carol, and always acknowledges the support of his family.  He is accessible and approachable to his family, his friends, his colleagues and the community in general.